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The case for performance rating homes

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Abstract

Last November the Business Council published the results of a two-year $300,000 research project on how to improve the performance of New Zealand’s homes. The research and associated national survey of New Zealanders found a million of the nation’s 1.6 million homes are performing poorly: 45% are mouldy, 64% have no insulation under their floors; 29% do not have fully insulated ceilings and 71% do not  have all walls insulated, while 6% have no insulation at all. Surveys indicate some 260,000 homes are making their occupants ill. While the National and Green parties have since agreed on an insulation upgrade package for housing, a national performance rating is needed to provide a value proposition and an incentive for hundreds of thousands of New Zealand homeowners to upgrade. This presentation outlines the case for performance ratings and the latest package of policy incentives which will prompt 670,000 homeowners to take advantage of loans, mortgage extensions (and Government grants aimed at those on low incomes with health issues) within the next 10 years. Given the right package, 210,000 could invest in the next 12 months.

Citation

Peter Neilson. "The case for performance rating homes," Auckland Pubic Policy Seminar Series, May.

Motu code: APPS0905

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